President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants the next Ombudsman to be judicious, courageous, and fair, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked about the President’s preference for the successor of Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires, whose term ends on July 27, 2025.

Martires was appointed as Ombudsman on July 26, 2018 for a non-renewable seven-year term.

Castro said President Marcos has not received a shortlist of nominees for the next Ombudsman.

“Dapat po isang matino, matapang, fair – iyon po ang mga pangunahin, ilan lamang sa mga pangunahin na dapat na magiging isang katangian hindi lang ng Ombudsman, lahat ng public servants,” Castro said when asked during the press briefing.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced on May 20, 2025 the opening of applications and recommendations to the post of Ombudsman.

The Office of the Ombudsman was created in 1989 under Republic Act 6770 to “investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.” | PND